The Squatters

At the end of WWII the army left the camp that was just to the Steventon side of the current Storage Facility along the Hanney Road. Shortly after homeless people started squatting in the now disused accommodation.

Shortly after this Abingdon Rural District Council took over the site. They contracted Steventon builder Les Buck to renovate the huts to provide one or two bedrooms, a living area with a kitchen range and a WC. A rent of seven shillings and sixpence (37p) per week was charged – and didn’t change for the life of the camp. Farmers would help new residents move what furniture they had by horse and cart.

At first children walked to the school in Steventon but eventually taxis and buses were provided for them. Local traders delivered meat, groceries, paraffin etc and twice a week a bus provided a service to Abingdon.

The residents formed a strong community spirit with their own social club and an annual children’s sports day with egg and spoon races etc